Authors
Amirali Goli, Department of Biological Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University. Tehran, Iran
Parsa Attarieh, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
João Pedro Nunes, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University. Joondalup, Australia
Saman Nehegadar, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Saaed Khani, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Mohmad Fashi, Department of Biological Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University. Tehran, Iran
Sajjad Ahmadizad, Department of Biological Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University. Tehran, Iran
International Journal of Exercise Science 19(4): 1-10, 2026.
DOI: 10.70252/IJES2026403
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether extending traditional calf-raise resistance training sets with partial-range-of-motion (ROM) repetitions in the more dorsiflexed ROM enhances muscular hypertrophy. Sixteen untrained men (25.0±1.7y) completed 10 weeks of unilateral standing calf-raise training (2×/wk) in a within-subject design: one leg performed traditional 10-14RM sets to full-ROM momentary failure (MF; 4-6 sets/session) and the other leg performed half as many sets to full-ROM failure followed by partial-ROM repetitions to a second failure in the more dorsiflexed ROM (PBF; 2-3 sets/session). Total volume-load was equated between conditions; repetitions were counted the same way regardless of the ROM. Muscle hypertrophy was assessed as changes in muscle thicknesses of the gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis via B-mode ultrasound imaging. After training, both MF and PBF elicited equivalent (equivalence test P-values <0.05) changes in muscle thickness (averaged muscle thicknesses; MF:8%, PBF:8%). Per-set analyses, however, revealed greater efficiency (P<0.05) with PBF (0.16%) in comparison to MF (0.08%). In conclusion, adding “longer-length” partial-ROM repetitions to failure beyond full- ROM failure (PBF) permits a greater accumulation of volume-load per set and elicit greater changes in muscle size on a per-set basis analysis. Under volume-load-equated conditions, PBF and training to full-ROM failure (MF) seem to evoke similar changes in gastrocnemius thickness after 10 weeks of unilateral standing calf-raise training in untrained young men.
Recommended Citation
Goli, Amirali; Attarieh, Parsa; Nunes, João Pedro; Nehegadar, Saman; Khani, Saaed; Fashi, Mohmad; Ahmadizad, Sajjad (2026) “Does Performing Partial Repetitions Beyond Momentary Failure Enhance Muscle Hypertrophy in Volume-Load-Equated Calf-Raise Resistance Training?,” International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 19 : Iss. 4, Pages 1-10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/IJES2026403